In the summer of 1981, a 33-year-old woman named Chalice Paul, also known as Chalice Alford, vanished. A vibrant individual with aspirations of an acting career and a former senior flight attendant for Delta, Chalice was at a pivotal point in her life. She was separated from her second husband, the race car driver John Paul Sr., and was living in Atlanta, Georgia. That summer, she had been cast in a Burt Reynolds movie, "Sharky's Machine," which was filming in the city. However, before she could begin this new chapter, her estranged husband visited her and persuaded her to meet him in Florida, with accounts suggesting their final destination was Key West. Chalice boarded a flight from Atlanta to Florida and was never seen or heard from again.
In the wake of her disappearance, no missing person report was filed, and for a long time, no official investigation was launched into what happened to her.
The circumstances surrounding Chalice Paul's disappearance are deeply troubling. Her estranged husband, John Paul Sr., never contacted her family to inform them she was missing. Instead, when inquiries were made, conflicting stories were reportedly given to her loved ones. It wasn't until many years later that her case began to receive attention. John Paul Sr. has a documented criminal history, including a conviction for the 1983 shooting of a witness in a drug trafficking case, for which he fled the country before being extradited and serving time in prison. Nineteen years after Chalice vanished, another woman, Colleen Wood, also disappeared after being in his company in Florida. While he has been questioned in connection to both disappearances, he has denied any involvement and has never been charged.
The lack of an initial investigation has made finding answers in Chalice Paul's case exceptionally difficult. For decades, her family and friends were left without any official recourse or support. The Key West Police Department is now listed as the investigating agency for her case. The passage of time has not diminished the hope of finding out what happened to Chalice. Her case serves as a poignant reminder of the lasting pain and uncertainty that families of the missing endure, particularly when the initial response is inadequate. The story of Chalice Paul is one of a bright life cut short under mysterious and suspicious circumstances, leaving a void for those who knew her and a lingering question for investigators.Last Seen: Jun 1, 1981